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Swimming pool cleaner poisoning

Definition

Swimming pool cleaner poisoning occurs when someone swallows this type of cleaner, touches it, or breathes in its fumes. These cleaners contain chlorine and acids. Chlorine is more likely than the acids to cause serious poisoning.

This article is for information only. Do NOT use it to treat or manage an actual poison exposure. If you or someone you are with has an exposure, call your local emergency number (such as 911), or your local poison center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States.

Poisonous Ingredient

The harmful substances in swimming pool cleaner are:

Bromine

Calcium chloride

Calcium hypochlorite

Chelated copper

Chlorine

Soda ash

Sodium bicarbonate

Various mild acids

Where Found

Various swimming pool cleaners contain these substances.

Symptoms

Below are symptoms of swimming pool cleaner poisoning in different parts of the body.

Home Care

Get medical help right away. Do NOT make the person throw up unless poison control or a health care provider tells you to.

If the cleaner is on the skin or in the eyes, flush with lots of water for at least 15 minutes.

If the person swallowed the cleaner, give them water or milk right away, if a provider tells you to do so. Do NOT give anything to drink if the person has symptoms that make it hard to swallow. These include vomiting, convulsions, or a decreased level of alertness.

If the person breathed in fumes of the cleaner, move them to fresh air right away.

Before Calling Emergency

Have this information ready:

Person's age, weight, and condition

Name of the product (and ingredients, if known)

Time it was swallowed

Amount swallowed

Poison Control

Your local poison center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.

This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the United States use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

What to Expect at the Emergency Room

Take the container with you to the hospital, if possible.

The provider will measure and monitor the person's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. Symptoms will be treated.

The person may receive:

Breathing support, including tube through the mouth into the lungs, and breathing machine (ventilator)

Bronchoscopy: camera down the throat to see burns in the airways and lungs

Chest x-ray

EKG (electrocardiogram), or heart tracing

Endoscopy: camera down the throat to see burns in the esophagus and the stomach

Fluids through a vein (by IV)

Surgery to remove burned skin

Tube through the mouth into the stomach to wash out the stomach (gastric lavage)

Washing of the skin (irrigation), perhaps every few hours for several days

Outlook (Prognosis)

How well someone does depends on how severe their poisoning is and how quickly they receive treatment. The faster medical help is given, the better the chance for recovery.

High doses of chlorine and swimming pool cleaning acids can be very poisonous. Serious damage to the mouth, throat, and stomach is possible. The outcome will depend on the extent of this damage.

Opening a large bucket of chlorine tablets can expose you to a powerful chlorine gas that can be very poisonous. Always open the container outdoors. Keep your face as far away from the open container as possible.

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